Declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in by the World Health Organisation in 2022, mpox is an infectious disease caused by the MPXV virus. However, it still remains a concern today, with an increase of cases and deaths being reported over the past year.
The study evaluated the T cell response to MPXV in people who have already recovered from the infection – as well as the difference to those who had received a modified smallpox vaccine.
Interestingly, researchers found T cell responses in both groups, and they were generated regardless of whether individuals had recovered from natural infection or vaccination. However, responses primed by natural infection were much stronger.
These findings show that T cell responses to MPXV infection may play an important role in protecting people from getting mpox and the development of the disease. Additionally, improving the design of new MPXV vaccines may be needed by inducing similar T cell responses to natural infection.
Professor Tao Dong, Co-Director of CAMS Oxford Institute and corresponding author on the study, said: ‘Cytotoxic T cell responses play an important role in clearing out the virus infected cells, our study suggested vaccine aims to generate strong cross-reactive T cell responses against MPXV is needed.’
Read the story on the Nuffield Department of Medicine website.